‘BoJack Horseman’ Recap, Episode 202: Special Feelings

In BoJack Horseman‘s Season 2 episode “Yesterdayland,” it’s clear that BoJack is itching for a relationship. Meanwhile, Todd prepares for the grand opening of his DisneyLand, which he has spent the past five years building. Cue antics and hilarity.

BoJack goes to the skating rink to drink. A surprisingly happy Pinky Penguin (Patton Oswalt) happens to be there. We learn that Pinky has left print media and is now working in broadcast television, which has nowhere to go but up.

He explains that the reason he’s at the skating rink is because his boss, Wanda Pierce (Lisa Kudrow), who is Head of Programming at his station, loves to skate.

Wanda has just woken up from a 30-year coma and has some “fresh ideas.” Pinky then drops this truth bomb:

“Actually, everything feels fresh if you just forget the last 30 years ever happened.”

Well played, Netflix, well played.

Pinky introduces Wanda to BoJack, and after several animal-appropriate “who?” responses, BoJack realizes that she has no idea who he is. The two of them share a romantic moment, complete with fake 80s music.

They go back to BoJack’s place and spend the rest of the night talking until the sun comes up. They then have sex, and BoJack has a mini meltdown. Even though they just had sex, he still — gasp — wants to spend time with her. Overwhelmed by this powerful new desire to actually value spending time with someone, he asks Wanda if she wants to go to DisneyLand.

However, instead of going to the happiest place on earth, he takes her here:

At DisneyLand, Diane questions Todd about the layout of the park, namely if it’s wise to have Cinderella’s Magical Pile of Used Mattresses next to an active grease fire. Wanda points out Diane’s negativity, and BoJack immediately agrees with his new squeeze. Don’t worry; we’re scoffing too, Diane.

Meanwhile, Mr. Peanutbutter and Todd get into a fight about Mr. Peanutbutter’s involvement with the theme park.

Back on set, BoJack’s Wanda-based distraction is pissing off Diane and my new favorite director. After complaining about BoJack, Kelsey tells Diane that every celebrity and most people have an age of stagnation. She says this mostly happens when people get married and settle into a routine, causing Diane to panic about her relationship with Mr. Peanutbutter.

Later, BoJack takes Wanda to the perfect restaurant for anyone missing the 80s — a 50s nostalgia diner. Their blip of happiness is short-lived when the guy sitting behind Wanda, Alex, turns out to have also just awoken from a 30-year coma. What are the odds, right?

In the car ride back, Wanda tells BoJack to stop acting jealous, and BoJack says he will. But BoJack also lies often.

Instead of respecting his new girlfriend’s wishes and Princess Carolyn’s advice, he spies on Alex’s house. BoJack discovers that Alex is actually a KGB sleeper agent. Apparently Alex is more flawed than the one little problem BoJack was looking for.

Back at the park, Todd is served a cease and desist from The Walt Disney Company after Mr. Peanutbutter checks the legality of the park. Who could have seen that coming? Not P.B. Livin’.

In court, Todd proposes this hypothetical for his defense: What if The Walt Disney Company misspelled DisneyLand on its article of incorporation, making the name DisneyLand still available?

Schockingly, Todd logic prevails as the original DisneyLand was spelled with two i’s. Hooray! Time for a party at BoJack’s!

At the party, BoJack exposes Alex as Comrade Alex. Alex admits that he is a KGB agent who was sent to destroy America. However, since waking up, he hasn’t been able to get ahold of his handler and doesn’t know if he ever will. Aww…

Wanda accuses BoJack of spying on the spy and tells him if this is who BoJack really is, she doesn’t think she likes it. She asks Alex to take her home. Man, BoJack can’t even be the good guy when compared to a Soviet spy.

The next day, Princess Carolyn tells BoJack to quit sulking and go win Wanda back. He finds her at Todd’s DisneyLand at the same time that Mr. Peanutbutter finds Todd. Mr. Peanutbutter apologizes to Todd and BoJack apologizes to Wanda for being greedy and selfish.

They are forgiven. However, as they apologize, the grease fire predictably gets out of control and destroys DisneyLand – but not our heroes. Hooray!

BIGGER PICTURE

Wanda’s unfailing positivity seems to be the perfect antidote to BoJack’s constant depression. It’s nice to see a Horseman love interest that doesn’t stand for his self-sabotaging schemes. We’ll see how it plays out, but for now, I’m giving this budding relationship my stamp of approval. Also, having Lisa Kudrow’s voice tied to this out-of-date character is amazing.

Though it was a quick scene, I think that Kelsey’s comment to Diane about stagnation is going to be incredibly important later on. We already knew that there were some doubts on both sides when it came to Diane and Mr. Peanutbutter’s marriage, but in this episode and the one before it, we’ve seen some subtle panicked expressions from Diane. Judging from the focus on relationships, the budding fights we’ve seen between characters (looking at you PC and Vincent Adultman), and Kelsey’s general cynicism, I think that our couples need to look out. Unhappiness is brewing on the horizon.

BEST BACKGROUND JOKE

There were several great background jokes this episode, but I have a warm place in my heart for Gabe Jr., the son of the fire Todd mentioned naming in Season One. Gabe Jr. really broke out from his background role and gave a roaring performance, and for that, we applaude him.

BEST QUOTES

“Give me your fax and pager number so I can add them to my rolodex.” — Wanda Pierce

“You know what they say: You can lead a horse to roller but you can’t make him rink.” — BoJack Horseman

“Here we have Mr. Todd’s Wild Deathcoaster. The name is a work in progress, but we wanted to work death into the title for liability reasons.” — Todd Chavez

“Erika! You can’t be here! This place is filled with children!” — Mr. Peanutbutter

“But if you want to kick me to the curb just because I think you’re all capitalist swine and want to see your way of life destroyed, well, then so be it. Or should I say, So-vi-et.” — Alex, the KGB sleeper agent